Caldecott engaged children's imaginations

9:58 PM,
Mar. 21, 2013

Randolph Caldecott illustration from 'The House That Jack Built' (1877)

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In 1937, the American Library Association, which had been awarding the Newberry Medal since 1922 to recognize the best children's book of the year, realized that illustrations were an essential component of the genre and should have their own award.

They named the recognition of the best illustrators the Caldecott Medal. "Randolph Caldecott was one of a group of three influential children's illustrators working in England in the 19th century," says the ALA website. "The other two illustrators were Kate Greenaway and Walter Crane. His illustrations for children were unique to their time ...